Newt OK with gay marriage referenda

By ALEXANDER BURNS

02/24/2012 02:49 PM EST

With same-sex marriage laws passing in Maryland and Washington state and New Jersey headed for a fall referendum on the issue, Newt Gingrich said at the Washington state capitol this morning that he's basically comfortable with states enacting gay marriage laws by popular vote. Ginger Gibson sends in the key quote:

I think at least they're doing it the right way, which is going through voters, giving them a chance to vote and not having a handful of judges arbitrarily impose their will. I don't agree with it, I would vote no if it were on a referendum where I was but at least they're doing it the right way.

The laws in Maryland and Washington may face challenges by referendum, while Chris Christie's veto of a gay marriage bill means proponents of same-sex unions in his state will have to make their case at the ballot box.

The argument Gingrich is making -- that he's against gay marriage, but accepts the will of the people on the issue -- bears some similarities, Ginger points out, to Rick Perry's statement last summer that he's opposed to gay unions but would prefer to let the states decide individually. Perry ultimately backed off that position after taking heavy criticism from social conservatives.